Systems and methods for data collection using workflow forms

A system for enabling use of workflow instances in a multitenant environment, comprising:

• a processor;
• a data repository communicatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores instructions which are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform:
• storing a plurality of content objects in a data repository of a multitenant content sharing system;
• configuring, for each of one or more tenants, a set of tenant access rules for content objects owned by the tenant, wherein the multitenant content sharing system enables users to access content objects owned by the tenant according to the tenant access rules;
• the multitenant content sharing system enabling a first user to:
• initiate a workflow instance that includes a form associated with a content object, wherein the form defines one or more form fields through which corresponding data of the content object are accessible,
• assign a second user to a task in the workflow instance, wherein the task is associated with the form, wherein prior to assigning the task to the second user, the second user is not explicitly authorized to access the content object by the tenant access rules for the content object;
• add data entered in the form fields to the content object,
• wherein the first user is authorized by a tenant-owner of the content object to access the content object;
• and
• the multitenant content sharing system, in response to the first user assigning the second user to the task, automatically authorizing the second user to modify the content object with data entered in the form fields according to the task.

A computer program product for content sharing through external systems, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor for:

• storing plurality of content objects in a data repository of a multitenant content sharing system;
• enabling each tenant to configure a set of tenant access rules for content objects owned by the tenant, wherein the users are enabled to access content objects owned by the tenant according to the tenant access rules;
• enabling a first user to:
• initiate a workflow instance,
• associate a form with the workflow instance that includes a form associated with a content object, wherein the form defines one or more form fields through which corresponding data of the content object are accessible,
• assign a second user to a task in the workflow instance, wherein the task is associated with the form, wherein prior to assigning the task to the second user, the second user is not explicitly authorized to access the content object by the tenant access rules for the content object;
• add data entered in the form fields to the content object;
• wherein the first user is authorized by a tenant-owner of the content object to access the content object, and
• automatically enable, in response to the first user assigning the second user to the task of the workflow instance, the second user to modify the content object with data entered in the form fields according to the task.